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ARSENAL goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale is allegedly ‘breaking the door down’ to seal an exit from the Emirates Stadium this summer.
The England international’s future in North London has been called into question ever since he lost his place in the sticks to David Raya at the start of the 2023-24 campaign.
From September 2023 onwards, Ramsdale’s only opportunities came in inconsequential Champions League games, cup matches and Premier League meetings with Raya’s former club Brentford, whom he could not face while on loan.
Ramsdale was guilty of mistakes in both league meetings with the Bees – one of which briefly proved costly as his clearance was charged down by Yoane Wissa – although Arsenal still ended up winning both games.
The 26-year-old’s father said last year that Ramsdale had lost his smile at Arsenal due to his brutal demotion, and with Raya joining permanently this summer, another year on the bench awaits the Englishman should he fail to complete a transfer elsewhere.
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‘Tired’ Ramsdale desperate to leave Arsenal
According to Football Insider, the goalkeeper is now metaphorically ‘breaking the door down’ in his efforts to leave the Gunners this summer, as he has grown tired of watching on from the bench week after week.
A plethora of clubs have been tipped to make approaches, namely Chelsea and Bayern Munich, although the former quickly cooled their interest and signed Filip Jorgensen from Villarreal instead.
Now, the main contenders are thought to be Newcastle United, Ajax and Wolverhampton Wanderers, the latter of whom have also seen one of their shot-stoppers – Daniel Bentley – linked with a move to Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta’s side have supposedly failed with one offer to bring Bentley back to North London, as the 31-year-old represented the Gunners at youth level before leaving in 2009.
Wolves – who lost 2-0 to Arsenal on Saturday – are also facing uncertainty surrounding the future of current number one Jose Sa, whom Ramsdale could therefore succeed at Molineux.
What is Arteta’s stance on losing Ramsdale?
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During the earliest days of Raya’s stint in the Arsenal goal, Arteta made it abundantly clear that he did not view either the Spaniard or Ramsdale as his first-choice shot-stopper and even alluded to substituting his goalkeepers based on how a particular game was playing out.
However, almost one year later, it could not be more evident that Raya is the undisputed number one and Ramsdale is playing second fiddle, so one can sympathise with the latter for making a desperate attempt to depart.
Ramsdale benefitted from a lack of other quality options to make England’s Euro 2024 squad, but his mission to usurp Jordan Pickford will continue to prove unfruitful should he remain out in the cold in North London.
Arteta is supposedly against the idea of losing Ramsdale this summer, though, as the Arsenal boss wants to have two top-quality goalkeeping options in his squad, and there have still been no concrete approaches for the 26-year-old.
Ramsdale has kept 32 clean sheets in 89 appearances for Arsenal since joining from Sheffield United in 2021, while Raya recorded his 21st shut-out in 42 games against Wolves on Sunday, although the Spaniard has been helped by having a more sturdy defence in front of him.
Culled from Sports Mole
18th August, 2024.
C.E.
Tags: Aaron Ramsdale Arsenal
